Good morning. I have a list of sightings in front of me so without any further ado, I will begin. A lesser redpoll was feeding behind the visitor centre on Friday morning and I went up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime. I saw three redshanks and two water rails.
As the day went on, a merlin was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and an otter was seen from Mere Hide. There was plenty to see from the visitor centre window including a kingfisher and two water rails.
In the afternoon, Katherine and local bird ringer Simon went down to Joist Fen viewpoint. They saw at least 25 marsh harriers, a peregrine and a bittern.
I walked around Brandon Fen yesterday morning and I could hear some whooper swans calling on the washland. A great white egret flew south east over Brandon Fen and a mistle thrush was singing in the car park. Two stonechats were perched up on the riverbank and a water rail was feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond shortly after we opened up.
I went and did some raking near the pond dipping platform and while I was working, a flock of around 300 lapwings were wheeling around overhead with around 30 golden plovers. The latter species is a tricky one to connect with here so they were great to see.
I went up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and saw:
Caspian gull: 1 adult
Lesser black backed gull: 24
Herring gull: 2
Great white egret: 1
Redshank: 3
Water rail: 1
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, volunteer Roy saw a kingfisher from Mere Hide and at least eight reed buntings feeding in front of New Fen viewpoint. An otter was also seen from New Fen viewpoint during the afternoon.
It was bright and rather chilly for my walk around this morning and the highlight was watching a flock of at least 150 lapwings wheeling overhead. I took a couple of photos in the morning sunshine which I hope you like:
Little Ouse river looking east:
Brandon Fen poplars:
Brandon Fen Brecks heath:
Image credits: David White
If you are planning to visit this week, please remember that local wildlife artist and reserve volunteer Rob Dyke's wildlife art exhibition is now up and running in the visitor centre. Please read this blog post for more information. Also, we will be starting reed cutting and burning in the western end of New Fen North this week. Please read this blog post for more information.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!